Small Motorised Vehicles (Safety) Act 2020

• Act Code: SMVSA2020
• Edition: 2020 Rev Ed
• Commencement: 31 Mar 2021
• Version as at: 1 Aug 2026
• Enacted by: Parliament

Section 1 — Short title and commencement

(1) This Act is the Small Motorised Vehicles (Safety) Act 2020.(2) Paragraph (c) of the definition of “personal mobility device” or “PMD” in section 2(1) and paragraph (c) of the definition of “power‑assisted bicycle” or “PAB” in section 2(

Section 2 — Interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —“authorised officer”, for any provision of this Act, means an individual who is appointed under section 17 as an authorised officer for the purposes of that provision; “Authority” mean

Section 3 — Purposes of Act

The purposes of this Act are to provide consumers in Singapore with a choice of small motorised vehicles that meet safety standards and that are able to make use of technological advancements by —(a) prohibiting the import into Singapore of

Section 4 — Act binds Government

(1) This Act binds the Government.(2) However, nothing in this Act —(a) renders the Government liable to prosecution for an offence under this Act; or (b) prevents any public officer from exercising his or her powers or carrying out his or

Section 5 — Importing small motorised vehicle needs approval

(1) A person commits an offence if —(a) the person imports a small motorised vehicle; and (b) at the time of import, the person is not permitted to import the small motorised vehicle. (2) A person is permitted to import a small motorised ve

Section 6 — Approvals for import

An import approval for the import of any small motorised vehicle, and the transfer of such approval, may be applied for, and granted or refused by the Authority, only in accordance with the regulations.

Section 7 — Cancellation of import approval

(1) The Authority may, in the prescribed manner, cancel an import approval for the import of a small motorised vehicle if the Authority —(a) becomes aware of a circumstance that would have required or permitted the Authority to refuse to gr

Section 8 — Breach of purpose of imported vehicle

(1) A person commits an offence if —(a) the person is granted an import approval to import a small motorised vehicle for a purpose specified in the import approval that —(i) is not a sale, letting for hire or other distribution by way of tr

Section 8A — Keeping unsafe device

(1) A person commits an offence if the person, without reasonable excuse, keeps an unsafe device at any place knowing that, or reckless as to whether, the device is an unsafe device.(2) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection

Section 8B — Presumption of keeping unsafe device

(1) For the purpose of section 8A —(a) if there is a registered owner of the unsafe device — the registered owner is presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be keeping the unsafe device; (b) if paragraph (a) does not apply and the unsaf

Section 9 — Purpose for which enforcement powers are exercisable by authorised officers

(1) An authorised officer may exercise the powers set out in sections 10 and 11 for any of the following purposes:(a) to investigate an offence under this Act reasonably believed to have been committed; (b) to determine compliance with any

Section 10 — Powers of entry, etc., at premises

(1) An authorised officer may, subject to subsection (2), enter and inspect any relevant premises and do all or any of the following:(a) to examine any thing or observe any activity conducted in or on the premises, including —(i) to detain

Section 11 — Power to seize vehicles

(1) Where an authorised officer has reason to believe that a small motorised vehicle or vehicle component is a vehicle or component in connection with which an offence under section 5, 8 or 8A has been or is being committed, the authorised

Section 12 — Offence of non-compliance, etc.

(1) A person commits an offence if the person —(a) without prior permission of an authorised officer, opens, breaks, alters or removes any mark, lock, seal or other safeguard used to secure a package, box, container or other thing under sec

Section 13 — Offence of providing false information, etc.

(1) If —(a) a person provides a document, or makes a statement (whether orally, in writing or any other way) or gives information, to the Authority or an authorised officer; (b) the document, statement or information is false or misleading,

Section 14 — Composition of offences

(1) The Chief Executive of the Authority, or any employee of the Authority authorised in writing by the Authority for the purpose of this section, may compound any offence under this Act that is prescribed as a compoundable offence.(2) A co

Section 15 — Forfeiture of vehicles, etc.

(1) Subject to this section, all things seized or surrendered under the provisions of this Act are liable to forfeiture by a court.(2) An order for the forfeiture may be made by the Authority in respect of a vehicle or vehicle components se

Section 16 — Administration of Act

It is the function of the Authority to administer and enforce this Act.

Section 17 — Authorised officers

(1) The Authority may, in relation to any provision of this Act, appoint as authorised officers for the purposes of that provision from among any of the following who are suitably trained to be authorised officers:(a) any individual perform

Section 18 — Identification cards and equipment

(1) The Authority must issue to each authorised officer an identification card.(2) Every authorised officer whose appointment as such ceases must return to the Authority any identification card issued to him or her under subsection (1). (3)

Section 19 — Obstructing authorised officers, etc.

(1) A person who refuses to give access to, or obstructs, hinders or delays an authorised officer in the discharge of his or her duties under this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $

Section 20 — Preservation of secrecy

(1) An individual who is or has been an authorised officer must not disclose any information relating to the affairs of the Authority or of any other person which has been obtained by the individual in the performance of his or her duties o

Section 21 — Protection from personal liability

No liability shall lie against an authorised officer for anything done or intended to be done with reasonable care and in good faith in the execution or purported execution of this Act.

Section 22 — Offences by corporations

(1) Where, in a proceeding for an offence under this Act, it is necessary to prove the state of mind of a corporation in relation to a particular conduct, evidence that —(a) an officer, employee or agent of the corporation engaged in that c

Section 23 — Offences by unincorporated associations or partnerships

(1) Where, in a proceeding for an offence under this Act, it is necessary to prove the state of mind of an unincorporated association or a partnership in relation to a particular conduct, evidence that —(a) an employee or agent of the uninc

Section 24 — Jurisdiction of courts

Despite the Criminal Procedure Code 2010, a District Court or a Magistrate’s Court has jurisdiction to try any offence under this Act and has power to impose the full punishment for any such offence.

Section 25 — Service of documents

(1) A document that is permitted or required by this Act to be given to or served on a person may be given or served as described in this section.(2) A document permitted or required by this Act to be given to or served on an individual may

Section 26 — General exemption

The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, exempt any person or class of persons from all or any of the provisions of this Act, either generally or in a particular case and subject to such conditions as the Minister may impose.

Section 27 — Regulations

(1) The Authority, with the approval of the Minister, may make regulations necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.(2) In particular, the Authority, with the approval of the Minister, may make

Section 28 — Presentation to Parliament

All subsidiary legislation made under this Act must be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after publication in the Gazette.

Section 30 — Saving and transitional provision

For a period of 2 years after the date of commencement of any provision of this Act, the Minister may, by regulations, prescribe such additional provisions of a saving or transitional nature consequent on the enactment of that provision as